Sullivans 06 - Let Me Be the One

coming on to her.”
    He’d meant it when he said she shouldn’t have to pay a price for being beautiful. Not just with some creep who had power over her career, but with her friend who could barely remember to keep his hands off her.
    Ryan ran a hand over his face. “Plus, her ex was such a dick that she isn’t exactly looking for a replacement right now.” He looked up and realized his brothers and sisters were staring at him like he was speaking Greek. “What?”
    Sophie looked around the table before saying, “I think we’re all a little bit stunned. Not about what you and Vicki are doing with the whole fake engagement thing. That seems to make sense, strangely. But because—” She paused to weigh her words. “—everything has always seemed so easy for you.”
    “Well, it isn’t,” he snapped.
    “Tell us what you need and we’ll do it,” Smith said.
    Ryan was pretty sure the subtext behind his brother’s question had just as much to do with helping him to get Vicki to fall for him as it did with making sure some creep on her fellowship board didn’t hurt her.
    Knowing there was nothing anyone could do to get her to change her feelings, that she was too strong to be manipulated by anyone, he said, “If anybody asks about us, just back up our story of two old high school friends who reconnected and realized we weren’t going to let our second chance pass by without taking it. We’re going to talk to Mom after breakfast to clue her in.”
    Vicki returned to the table just in time to hear Lori say, “Your story really does sound romantic. Like every fantasy of how things could go with the one who got away. Unrequited love made right is the ultimate, isn’t it? No wonder the press is all over you guys.”
    Vicki’s face was perfectly blank as she slid back into her space beside him. Before he could smooth over Lori’s ridiculously on-point statements, their waitress came to the edge of their booth.
    “Something wrong with your food?” She glared at the table of completely full plates.
    It was the perfect opportunity to change the subject, especially because he hadn’t missed the way Vicki had tensed up at the word romantic .
    “Everything’s great, thanks.” Ryan picked up his fork and shoved a bite of egg into his mouth before saying to Smith, “So, how’s preproduction going on the film?” It was his cue to all of them that they were done talking about the fake engagement.
    And he was definitely done with everyone in his family feeling sorry for him because he was in love with a woman who had only ever looked at him as a friend.
     
    * * *
     
    After Ryan and Vicki had left the diner to head down to Palo Alto to meet with Mary Sullivan, Sophie said, “Ryan’s never been like that before. So frustrated...almost angry. I’m worried about him.”
    “Vicki sure looked like she’s crazy about him to me.” Lori made a face. “Maybe he’s wrong about her not returning his feelings.”
    “She was terrified when they put her picture up on the big screen,” Smith reminded her. “Even if she does feel something for him beyond friendship, she might not want to deal with everything that comes with being with Ryan. Marcus has had to make a lot of sacrifices for Nicola’s music career over the past year.”
    “And if he were here, he would tell you every one of them has been worth it,” Lori shot back stubbornly.
    “Maybe,” Chase said, “but since Ryan is probably going to be a pro coach one day, the pressures on whomever he’s with are only going to get bigger. And even more public. I’m guessing Vicki’s happiest when it’s just her and her art.”
    “She’s also happy when she’s with Ryan,” Lori argued. “I remember how much fun they used to have together. I haven’t ever forgotten the look on her face the day she came over to say goodbye when we were kids, and she’d found out she was moving away again. She looked like her heart had just broken into a million pieces. So did his.”
    Gabe nodded. “If you ask me, he’s just using the friend thing as an excuse. He should stop making excuses and make his move. I wanted Megan and I went after her.”
    Sophie rolled her eyes. “Sure you did, Gabe, after Summer and I totally schemed to throw you guys together.”
    Everyone grinned at Gabe and he had to laugh. “Okay, so maybe I needed a little help getting my head straight. Thanks, Soph.”
    As they all threw cash down on the table, Smith said, “We did our part